Womens Food and Farming Union

Links

agriCentreThe aim of agriCentre ™ is to become a primary source of UK agricultural information on the internet, providing you with exclusive farm and crop management tools that are essential for day-to-day work.

Bigbarn - the web site that gives consumers the opportunity to buy meat, game, fish, fruit and vegetables, cheese and dairy products, drink, bakers' products and even nursery plants direct from the people who produce them.

British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS) - the quick and easy way for keepers to register new births, report cattle movements, see the life history of their cattle, and see a list of cattle on their holding - allowing them to reduce the opportunity for subsidy penalty for incorrect information. It is also able to communicate directly with many farm management software packages. At no cost to the keeper. The online Cattle Tracing Service (CTS) Online - www.bcms.gov.uk.

British Farm Standard - The little red tractor is a promise to consumers they are buying quality food produced on farms that meet the high standards set out under British Farm Assurance. To keep the promise to consumers, independent inspectors police the standards that cover all aspects of the production process from animal movements to housing, feed animal health and welfare and looking after the countryside. Hundreds of retailers support the little red tractor and apply it to a wide range of British produce including beef, lamb, pork and poultry, fruit, vegetables, salads and milk.

British Food Fortnight - 'Putting the 'ooO' back into food' - A Resource Pack for Schools for British Food Fortnight 2004.
Do you want to teach young people more about food, but do not know where to start?
The organisers of British Food Fortnight, DfES's Growing Schools team and the Dept of Health have produced a pack to help you. Lessons and activities for each curriculum subject with details of where to obtain the resources to support them; in-season recipes; plus contacts of organisations that can offer activity-based support and learning facilities to help you. Plus lots of fun ideas for nursery, primary and secondary children on how to take part in this autumn's national celebration of food... To order a hard copy, please email info@britishfoodfortnight.co.uk or download a copy from www.britishfoodfortnight.co.uk

Business Link - the government's Small Business Service has relaunched its Business Link Website. The site contains comprehensive information about: starting and growing businesses of all types; as well as details of grants and support schemes; regulations; training; taxation; and recruitment.

The Commission for Rural Communities - was established in 2005 as an operating division of the Countryside Agency. The Commission acts as a rural advocate, expert adviser and independent watchdog for rural communities, with a particular focus on rural disadvantage. Newsletter

'Communicating climate change to farmers' - is a new project involving the NFU, CLA, Applied Research Forum (on behalf of all the levy boards) and Forum for the Future. During 2007 it will be using different channels to communicate the challenges and opportunities presented by climate change to farmers and growers.

Countrylife On-Line - your gateway to the countryside!, helping to build awareness of the efforts in sustaining countryside and providing a one stop directory for UK's Rural Industries.

Countrylovers.co.uk - your one-stop information shop when visiting, living or working in Britain's Countryside.

The Countryside Agency is the new statutory body working to conserve and enhance the countryside, to promote social equity and economic opportunity for the people who live there and to help everyone, wherever they live, to enjoy this national asset.

The Countryside Directory is an information site linking you to all aspects of the country life including wildlife, conservation, outdoor activities and rural goods and services.

The Countryside Foundation for Education (CFE) is an educational charity, established in 1986. We provide balanced teaching materials for schools that inform and encourage debate about the countryside, and also provide training for teachers about how to use the countryside in their teaching.

The Countryside Landowners & Business Association believes that farmers and landowners are the people best suited to manage the countryside and deliver the rural environment that everyone wants.

The Dairy Council - provides information and advice to consumers about milk and dairy products. Established in 1920, its work includes managing health promotion campaigns, collating scientific research relating to dairy products, and responding to breaking news stories on behalf of the industry.

The David Arnold-Forster Trust - was launched in 2003 in honour of a highly regarded man, David Arnold Forster. His work has helped to promote the importance of sustainable upland hill farming and support this critical sector of the farming industry. The Trust was established to carry on his work following his untimely death in 2002.

Department for Environment, Food and Regional Affairs (DEFRA) - DEFRA works for the essentials of life - food, air, land, water, people, animals and plants. It aims for sustainable development - a better quality of life for everyone, now and for generations to come, including:

a better environment at home and internationally, and sustainable use of natural resources;
economic prosperity through sustainable farming, fishing, food, water and other industries that meet consumers' requirements;
thriving economies and communities in rural areas and a countryside for all to enjoy.

Meat Eat
- If you eat meat and want to know that the produce you eat led a healthy and happy life, then check out this site.

English Beef & Lamb Executive
- The EBLEX objective is to create a sustainable and competitive beef and lamb sector. It delivers a wide range of technology transfer and market information services to businesses across the English beef and lamb supply chain and owns the EBLEX Quality Standard Mark, which is the UK's only assurance scheme to include an eating quality requirement for beef and lamb.
Quality Standard Mark promotional work to encourage lamb consumption in the wake of the current export ban.

4XtraHands.com
- The interactive website for seasonal and permanent labour on modern farms. Providing a place for farmers and growers around the world to link up with staff.

Explore UK
- a comprehensive web directory for all regions within the European Union.

farm - the independent voice of farmers - bringing together farmers, campaigners and supporters who share a positive vision of the futre of farming. Working together, our goal is to keep the countryside alive.

The Farm Animal Welfare Council - is an independent advisory body established by the Government in 1979. Its task is review the welfare of farm animals on agricultural land, at market, in transit and at the place of slaughter.

Farming On-line provides a dedicated on-line service to U.K. agriculture

Farming On-line - creating understanding and communication along the UK farming and food supply chains, from Farmers and Growers, Processors, Chefs and Retailers through to Consumers.

First Pasture sells a wide range of farming and smallholder titles from machinery and cattle to poultry and growing vegetables.

Flour and Grain Education Programme gives pupils an insight into the UK grain chain and its importance in providing us all with healthy nutritious foods. Two new cookery resources have just been launched (March 2006), designed for extra-curricular activities in after-school clubs and children's birthday parties.

The Food and Agriculture Organization is the largest autonomous agency within the United Nations system. The FAO has worked since 1945 to alleviate poverty and hunger by promoting agricultural development.

The Food for Life Partnership is a five year National Lottery funded initiative, led by the Soil Association, to transform food culture in schools and communities across England, bringing together the practical expertise of the Focus on Food Campaign, Garden Organic and the Health Education Trust.

Food from Britain is passionately committed to helping British food & drink companies. Our worldwide team has unrivalled market insight and trade relationships to develop and grow your business. With a full range of capabilities, FFB is the market development consultancy for British food & drink producers.

Foodfuture explains what GM crops and foods are and what benefits and risks might arise from their use. It examines some of the concerns most commonly raised about the technology and reviews the current regulatory controls. It is hoped that this will make a useful contribution to a balanced debate on this important subject.

The Foody specialises in the food and cookery from England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland and aims to support and promote local food producers. There are hundreds of recipes including many classic regional dishes and historical ones from Roman Britain and Medieval times. It has a directory of farmers’ markets and listings of local food suppliers, arranged by region. There is also an events diary for all food related events within the areas covered.

HomeGrown Cereals Authority
At the heart of the UK cereals and oilseeds industry. From scientists to growers, merchants to processors andmanufacturers to export markets. HGCA Interactive was launched in spring 2003 - click on the interactive logo at www.hgca.com

HGCA Enterprise Awards
HGCA's Enterprise Awards offer funding of between £5 - £50k to businesses developing innovative markets for grain-based products. Any company using wheat, barley, oats, rye or oilseeds directly, indirectly or in the manufacturing process may apply. The scheme aims to encourage increased grain usage.
Enterprise Awards - for further details check www.hgca.com/enterprise

Dunnhumby Academy of Consumer Research - The HGCA is currently working closely with the dunnhumby Academy of Consumer Research to provide farmers and small food producers with detailed consumer insights generated by a panel 12 million supermarket shoppers.

The Institute of Agricultural Secretaries - Farmers, Fed up with endless paperwork? Confidential help is now at hand. IAgSA members can provide full office services with specialist knowledge of rural business

The Lincolnshire Forum for Agriculture and Horticulture - The Forum aims to work with people across all sectors and wants to be able to consult with the sector and its partners in Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire. It wants to drive forward this changing agenda in a way that makes sense to the industry, public authorities and to consumers. The Forum's pledge is to work on themes that help bridge a gap or add to existing initiatives.

Linking Environment And Farming (LEAF) Speak Out and bridge the gap between farming and the public.
Available on the leaf website is a briefing sheet, which includes -
* Top tips for getting your message across

* Topical facts and figures to interest and inform your audience
* From the coal face - Doug Wanstall gives his experiences of host visits
Remember - Be positive and prepared, Listen Well, Know your audience, Choose your words wisely, Seek out the opportunity.

Local Food Grants is a £50 million programme that will distribute lottery grants to a variety of food-related projects to help make locally grown food accessible and affordable to local communities.

Local Food Web aims to offer a comprehensive directory of the good food on your doorstep, from farm shops and speciality food retailers to farmers' markets and village stores. You can search by area or by mail order, or you can use the forum to ask fellow visitors for their recommendations. It's free and you don't have to register - all they ask is that you eat, drink, and let the rest take care of itself.
The only stipulation is that producers must choose to be on the site - they can do so by filling in the registration form on the site or by sending the required details to admin@localfoodweb.co.uk

Made in Cheshire - is a membership organisation which raises awareness, organises events and provides business support aimed at promoting Cheshire Food and Drink and its producers, within the county, nationally and internationally.

MFEP (Marches Farm Enterprise Partnership) - helps farmers who want to diversify their farm business. Website visitors can access business planning advice and support.

The Mushroom Bureau - is responsible for the generic publicity of all fresh cultivated mushrooms sold in Britain. It is funded voluntarily by mushroom growers and allied trades from the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and Holland.

National Association of Farmers' Markets (NAFM) Farmers' Markets that are members of the NAFM are venues where farmers, growers, bakers and brewers sell their own produce directly to local customers. To find out where your nearest member market is visit www.farmersmarkets.net

National Summer Fruits Women's Food and Farming Union are pleased to work with National Summer Fruits through our commercial arm, Projectline. British Strawberry Day is one of the highlights of our annual programme.

National Union of Farmers - The latest facts, figures, news and views on farming are available on a new "intelligent" website. The new site www.nfuonline.com

- was unveiled in February at the NFU's annual conference. It uses state-of-the-art content management software and a powerful search engine to enable users to find exactly what they want from the NFU's store of sectoral, policy, technical, regional and international data.
NFU SourceDirect in association with Bigbarn.com allows retailers and caterers to source produce from local and regional farmers and growers on a wholesale basis via a new map-based website.

NetRegs - a new online environmental resource designed to help small and medium sized businesses understand their environmental regulations. Guidelines for farmers were launched in November at Smithfield. The website has been set up by the Environment Agency, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and the Environment and Heritage Service (NI) and is both authoritative and up-to-date. The NetRegs site has been developed by the UK’s environmental regulators to provide businesses with general management guidelines on how to improve their environmental performance and to explain in plain language the regulations covering a range of business sectors.

The peakdistrict-nationalpark.com - Peak District accommodation and tourist guide featuring hotels, holiday cottages, pubs, b&bs, campsites, caravan parks as well as restaurants, visitor attractions, places to see, walks and more.

The Pesticides Forum - established in 1996, brings together a wide range of organisations representing those who make, use or advise on pesticides as well as environmental, conservation and consumer interests. Many of the Forum members are already engaged in initiatives to promote best practice. The Forum provides a mechanism for exchanging ideas and for encouraging joint initiatives to address particular issues. It also provides advice to Government on Pesticide usage matters.

- Producing the Goods Common Ground’s current project, Producing the Goods, champions production and consumption that reflects and sustains locality, nature and culture.

The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution - The only national charity in England, Wales & Northern Ireland dedicated to assisting members of the farming community who are suffering hardship.

The Royal Agricultural Society of England - Organiser of The Royal Show, committed to the future of food, farming and the countryside. Owner of NAC Stoneleigh Park

School Milk Project - This website contains a range of information on Milk, that has been specifically designed to cater for all age groups.

South West Wales - Farming homepage for South West Wales including Farming stories, a webguide, listings and farming talking points.

Sustain: The alliance for better food and farming advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, enrich society and culture and promote equity.

Voice of British Agriculture There’s a lot of interest out there on the subject of food and farming. Most of us want to do more to get out the good news stories about British agriculture, but many feel they lack the tool to do so. ‘Farm, food and countryside’ is a comprehensive easy to read booklet that puts the case for British farming, counters some of the negative spin and presents information in an easy and informative style to be read by non-experts.

The Ulster Farmers’ Union - official website.

Vital Product Solutions - for information on product labelling and standards or trading standards legislation.

University of Oxford Environmental courses - the CPD Centre offers a range of short courses in the area of Environment and Sustainability.

Wicked Stepmother's World - runs courses that change with the seasons. Courses include medicinal and herb gardening, how to deal with fish and seasonal cooking. All the groups are small to ensure plenty of personal tuition. Materials, morning coffee, lunch, wine, afternoon tea and a goody bag are included in all full day courses.

WiRE (Women in Rural Enterprise) - helps women in rural areas succeed in business and aims to be a forum for UK Rural Women Entrepreneurs to network, make contacts, promote their businesses.

Links

www.wfu.org.uk